Cultural Experience in China and Russia: Architecture and Tea Tasting Tour

Day 1: Shenzhen to Harbin (Flight ¥2900) After landing, take a bus and transfer to a public bus to 📍Address: Derucci Hotel. Then head straight to 📍Address: Central Street, followed by 📍Address: Saint Sophia Cathedral. Unfortunately, the interior of the cathedral was closed for maintenance, so we could only take photos outside. There were many young women dressed as Russian princesses at the scene. Day 2: Take a taxi to 📍Address: Northeast Tiger Forest Park. Feeding the tigers was very interesting—¥80 for a bucket of meat containing four pieces. There was also a four-wheel-drive vehicle releasing chickens for the tigers to pounce on, showcasing their natural instincts. Walk about 30 minutes to 📍Address: Harbin Grand Theatre, but it was closed for unknown reasons. Then take a bus to 📍Address: Songjiang Cableway to watch the sunset. The ticket was quite expensive at ¥60 one way, and it was crowded during sunset hours. Six people squeezed into one cabin, which felt cramped, especially as others stood up excitedly to take photos. Overall, the experience didn’t feel worth the price. Day 3: 📍Address: Harbin Pharmaceutical Factory No. 6 Print Museum. Entry to Harbin No. 6 was free. The grand architecture offered many photo opportunities and even had a pharmacy. Then take a taxi to 📍Address: Volga Manor. Unless you have a lot of free time, it’s not worth visiting, as there are many grand buildings within Harbin city itself. Additionally, the bus service to the city center is infrequent and not cheap. In the evening, visit 📍Address: Ziyue Tea Room. I fell in love with tea rooms here. The elegant and tasteful environment costs ¥70 for a two-hour stay. Arriving early allows you to watch the sunset, and tea refills are free, making it a very relaxing experience. Day 4: Due to rain, I visited 📍Address: Harbin Ice and Snow World. By April, the outdoor ice sculptures were gone. Locals mentioned that Ice and Snow World was so popular last year that they established an indoor park for visitors to experience the -14°C ice and snow world. It not only features ice sculptures but also unlimited ice slides. However, the slides are quite fast, so be cautious while playing. Finally, take a taxi to the airport. Note that you need to pay toll fees for the trip to the airport. I asked the driver and found out that there are no toll fees when traveling from the airport to the city center, so toll fees won’t appear on the Didi app when heading to the airport. Overall, shopping in Harbin was a bit disappointing. Every 10 steps, there’s a Russian souvenir shop or restaurant, and the food offerings are quite similar, making it a bit dull. It felt like the city lacked its own unique Northeastern character, and I didn’t buy anything to bring back. Local people seem to cross streets or drive without paying much attention to traffic lights, so tourists should be extra cautious. Transportation: Many city attractions are accessible by subway and bus, making it very convenient.